What's Your Story? An Alcohol Change Initiative
The installations are part of the What’s Your Story? project - a VicHealth and local government initiative that aims to reveal, and change, the culture of drinking among young people aged 18-24 who frequent Melbourne’s late-night entertainment precincts.
What’s Your Story? is part of VicHealth’s Alcohol Culture Change Initiative which aims to change cultures of risky drinking in Victoria.
The project is a partnership between City of Port Phillip, City of Stonnington and City of Melbourne, with research body Turning Point and social enterprise Humankind Enterprises. It's great to see these organisations collaborating for the good of the people of the city.
Over the course of two years the project working group collected hundreds of stories from young Melburnians to explore the narrative around consumption of alcoholic products by asking participants a series of questions relating to their nightlife experiences in Melbourne. (Trying to remember if they asked us?)
Three poignant quotes reflecting the shift in attitude towards drinking and the change in drinking culture were selected to be reimagined as large-scale, interactive lighting displays. We love the fact that it's not just a verbal message but a visual even artistic message communicated through a powerful medium.
The creative masterminds behind the artwork, Creative Studio John Fish, were commissioned to uniquely interpret each quote through visually immersive artworks designed to captivate and engage the public.
The first of the three installations, "Music is all I need" uses LED pixel tubes in a double semi-circle array, which residents can be photographed in front of. In total, 1,600 individually controlled pixels were used to create this colourful and dynamic display.
"Savour it, remember it" will allow people to interact with and be photographed on top of a 3m X 2m LED dancefloor – the centrepiece of the installation.
Further lighting will highlight the stage backdrop for additional aesthetic emphasis.
Finally, "Drinking isn’t centre stage" differs from the other installations in that passers-by will be able to take their own photograph, reflected in nine mirrored pillars. Super creative!
Over the next two weeks, Acland Plaza, Greville Street/Grattan Gardens Plaza, Queensbridge Square and Southbank Spillway will host a different experiential light artwork, designed to be interactive with the public and will be on display during peak night time entertainment hours. Check it out! (as well as on social media @whatsyourstorymelb).